Toy railway



C. F.-EDWARDS.

TOY'RA|LWAY. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I7, 1921.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

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TOY RAILWAY.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB.17, 1921. v 7 1,390,891 a tedSept- 131921.

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TOY RAILWAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1921.

1,390,891. b I 'P enw sepu 13,19 1,

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CHARLES rnAsnn EnwAans, or o'r'rAwA, oN'r nIo, CANADA roY RAILWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed February 17, 1821. Serial No. 445,661.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. EDWARDS, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Toy Railway, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. A

This invention relates generally to the class of toys and has particular relation to a toy railway construction.

The invention broadly contemplates and aims primarily to simplify and generally improve the. commercial manufacture of miniature toy railways, whereby to permit of the substantial reduction in size without weakenin or in any way detracting from .the durability or attractiveness of the same as a toy.

The invention further seeks as one of its objects, to overcome the common tendency of the cars to jump the track, by providing in combination with improved form of supporting wheels, a novel road bed with which the same co-act.

Another object in view, resides in the unlimited possibility of the incorporation of highly amusing, attractive and realistic features of detai s, without entailing prohibitive expenditure in the production of the same. 1

With the above recited and other aims and objects in view, some of which will more clearly appear hereafter, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated a in the accompanying drawings which are understood to represent only one of the practical embodiments of the idea suggested.

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is an enlarged side view of a car and a portion of the track or road bed constructed in accordance with the invention, parts thereof being shown in section as in icated by the section line 1-1 of 2. a ig. 2 is a plan view of the car with the roof artially broken away to disclose the under ying structure.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the car and track taken approximately on the line H i E: 11

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the filler blocks removed.

F i 5 is a plan view of the blank sheet meta stamping constituting the exterior of the car construction.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the coupling members are constructed.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic detail end view illustrating the manner in which the coupling members are engaged.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged framentary sectional view through one of the supporting wheels and axles illustrating tlie manner in which the same is associated with the track and the axle bearing;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the road bed including a switch construction.

Fig. 10. is a transverse sectional view iiaken approximately on the line 10--10 of ig. 11 is a fra entary plan view of the track or road bed t zonstruction illustrating the manner in which the sections are associated.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference which denote like parts throughout the several views thereof, 10 designates a pair of identically formed filler blocks preferably constructed from lead, lead alloy or any other suitable material which has suflicient weight and is of sufficient strength to constitute the foundation for the car structure. Each of the blocks 10 consist of a rectangular body 11 provided with a centrally arranged boss 12 on its inner face. The boss of one block 12 is provided with a plurality of dowel openings 13 and that of the opposite block with a plurality of dowel pins 13 which are designed to inter-engage when the pair of blocks are assembled whereby to provide a substantiallyhomogeneous structure having recessed portions extending inwardly from the opposite ends. While the filler blocks are shown and described as being constructed separate it is to be underupper end isprovided with a longitudinal rabbet 15 and a transverse channel 16, the former being inc'lineddownwardly as at 17 at the opposite ends thereof. The lower or bottom end of the body 11 is provided with depending portions 18,-the outer faces of which are cast or otherwise formed to represent the trucks of the car. The inner face'of the bodyll is provided with grooves 19 extending from the opposite ends thereof toward the center, for a purpose to be hereafter set forth. The wheels for supporting the car are constructed preferably of conical sheet metal sections 20 and 21, the former having an annular flange 22 which is designed to be telescopically received by the annular flange 23 of the opposite section. The'fiange 23 is reversely bent inwardly as at 24 and outwardly-as at 25 to provide a radial rim or tiregwhich co-acts with the track. The axles upon which the supporting wheels are mounted, consist of relatively stiff, wires 26 having side arms 27 and 28 which are respectively received by the grooves 19 formed in the inner faces of the bodies 11:01? the blocks. The connecting portion 26 constituting the axle is provided with a compound curved portion 29 at its opposite ends which portion extends through alined openings in the sections 20 and 21 of thes'upporting wheels to mount and dispose said wheels at an angle to the vertical, so that the same incline inwardly toward each other from their point of contact with a 'supporting'surface. The free end of the side arm 28 is'bent inwardly as at 30 and the free terminal of the bend 30 is bent in wardly 'as at 31, for a purpose to be hereafter set forth. The coupling membersare stamped from a single sheet of material to provide a relatively long narrow strip 32 having medial oppositely disposed and alined lugs 33 which are designed to be received by the transverse channels 16 in the upper wall of the bosses 12 when the strip is arranged in the longitudinal rabbets 15. The opposite extremities 34 of the strip 32 are adapted to be bent downwardly on the line 35 and the lower portion of the extremities- 34 are received and guided between the loop formed by the inwardly bent extremity 31' of the portion 30. The extreme outer ends of the extremities 34: are respectively provided with transversely extending tongues 36 which are bent outwardly at a right angle as at 37, inwardly at a right angleas at 38 to co-act with the oppositely disposed similar portion of the .next car coupling. The tongue is further bent outwardly at a t5 degree angle as at 39 to provide a deflecting wing adapted to co-act with the next adjacent coupling for the purpose of effecting anantomatic coupling of the-r cars pqwhen the same are forcibly brought together Preferably the upper cor ner of the wings 39 are rounded as at 40 to properly guide the coupling member beneath the outer shell of the car body should the same be out of vertical alinement when the cars are brought together. The strip 32 is further provided with spaced oppositely disposed fingers 41 which are adapted to be bent upwardly. The exterior covering of the car body comprises a blank of sheet metal 42 which is stamped or otherwise formed to provide a top 43, the opposite sides of which are bent on the line 41 to provide the sides' iii, the opposite ends of which are formed with the extensions 16 which constitute the ends of the car when the blank is folded. The top is adapted to be further bent to provide the stepped portions 17 to accommodate the upper raised portion'of the bosses 12 and to imitate the usual run-way on a frieight car. This construction may be varied however where the a portions 48 oi. the top and the extensions 50 will be received in the stepped portion. In assembling the car, after the wheel sections have been arranged on the axles 26. the blocks 10 are assembled to bring the inner faces of the bosses 12 together, with the dowel pins 13 positioned in the dowel openings 13. The axles and supporting wheels are then inserted at the opposite ends by sliding the side arms 27 and 28 respectively into the grooves 19, formed on the inner opposed facesot the recesses. The coupling strips 32 are then arranged in place as clearly illustrated in the drawings and the blank 42 constituting the covering is positioned over blocks 10. The top 4-3 of the blank is provided with slots 51 through which the fingers -1-1 are designed to project. The outer surfaces of the blank 42 may be suitably impressed or otherwise treated to simulate the particular type oi? car the toy is designed to represent. By the construction and arrangement set forth it will be observed that the rim or tire 25 extends below the lower edge oi the depending castings 18 which are merely dummy trucks. It is further noted that the supporting wheels are mounted at oppositely disposed angles with respect to the vertical to bring the up per portion of their treads closer together than their lower ends whereby to obtain a more stable mounting of the car and reduce llfi with arallel longitudinal upstanding beads 53. he flanges 25 of the supporting wheels are designed to engage in the angle 54 formed by the juncture of the bead with the sheet metal strip thereby disposing the depending castings 18 directly above the beads to convey the impression that the dummy trucks are running directly on the beads which simulate the rails of the railway. The strips 52 are adapted to be connected together at their opposite ends by any suitable means to maintain the same against separation and hold the beads 53 in alinement. As illustrated the specific means employed comprise tongues 55 formed'at one end and slots 56 at the opposite end of each strip which are adapted to inter-engage for the purpose specified. The strips 52 may be pressed or otherwise treated to simulate ties'and ballast, and if desired switches, signalsor other of switch which may be employed in connection with the railway and the same comprises a flat metal strip 57 having the inner head 53 of the main track extended as at 58 to provide the side track. The switch points comprise a pair of flexible strips 59 and 60 which are provided withbendable tongues 61 insertable through slits or slots in the sheet metal base strip 57. The free extremities 62 and 63 of the strips 59 and 60 are shiftable through the medium of a transverselyslidable strip 64 whereby one or the other of the extremities 62 and 63 will engage and co act with its respective bead 53. A manipulating member 65 is swiveled at its lower end as at 66 in the base strip 57 and is pro vided with a lug 67 whichco-acts with the opening 68 in the strip 64 for effecting transverse sliding movement of said strip 64 to throw the switch.

When the car is assembled the flexibility of the strip 32 constituting the coupling member will permit of a lateral movement of the extremities 34 whereby automatic conpling of the cars may be effected by forcibly advancing the same toward each other. To release or manually couple the cars the fingers 41 may be depressed to effect a downward movement of the tongues 36 as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that a toy railway is provided the construction of which permits a substantial reduction in size without weakening or in any way detracting from the durability of the same as a toy. It will be further noted that the trackage may be manufactured very cheaply and the reduction in the size of the toy permits of a larger quantity of trackage being employed in a limited space.

It is to be understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually illustrated herein, to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims are expressed and by variations in the phraseology of the same.

I claim:

1. In a toy railway, a track comprising a base having parallel upstanding ribs and a car movable thereover having a plurality of pairs of supporting wheels mounted to dispose the wheels of each pair at an opposite angle whereby the treads of said wheels at their points of engagement with the ribs will be spaced relatively farther apart than the remainder of the treads and will coact respectively with the entrant angle formed at the juncture of the inner side of each rib with the base.

2. In a toy railway, the combination with a track including a base having upstanding parallel ribs simulating rails, of a car movable thereover including a body having transversely spaced depending bosses simulating trucks, and. supporting wheels mounted between the bosses and adapted to be received between the ribs on the base whereby to coact respectively therewith to guide the car in its movements thereover and maintain the lower edge of the trucks superposed directly over the rails to convey the impression that the trucks are engaging the same.

3. In a toy railway including a track con sisting of a plurality of sections composed of sheet metal strips provided with parallel upstanding beads simulating the track rails, and a car movable thereover comprising a body having transversely spaced depending bosses simulating trucks, and supporting wheels mounted thereon and adapted to coact with the base and said beads to guide the car and position the bosses directly over the beads to convey the impression that the to simulate trucks, a pair of supporting wheels mounted in the recesses and having their peripheral edges extending below the truck bosses at their point of contact with a road bed, and an outer covering shell adapted to be positioned over said foundation, said shell simulating a car body.

5. In a toy railway, a car including a foundation constituting a weighted filler block having recesses extending inwardly fromthe opposite ends thereof, bosses depending from the lower sides of said block to simulate trucks, a pair of supporting wheels mounted in the recesses and having their peripheral edges extending below the truck bosses at their point of contact with a road bed, and an outer covering shell adapted to be positioned over said foundation, said shell simulating a car body, in combination with a track comprising a plurality of sections, each consisting of a sheet metal base provided with parallel upstanding beads simulating the track rails between which the supporting wheels are received and guided, and Opver which the truck bosses are superose 6. A toy railway car construction including a foundation block having recesses extending inwardly from the opposite ends of the block providing spaced ends having alined grooves in the inner faces thereof, an axle having side arms adapted to be respectively positioned in the grooves, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on each axle, and an outer shell of sheet metal adapted to house the foundation and retain the'axles in assembled relation.

7. A toy railway car construction including a foundation block having recesses extending inwardly from the opposite ends of the block providing spaced ends having alined grooves in the inner faces thereof, an axle having side arms adapted'to be respectively positioned in the grooves, one of said arms having its extremity bent inwardly and provided with a loop, a pair of supporting wheels mounted on each axle, a strip of metal supported by the center portion of the top of the block having angularly bent depending ends extending re- ,spectively through loopsformed by said side arms and provided at their free extremities with coupling knuckles, and an outer shell of sheet metal adapted to house the foundation and retain the axles and the strips in assembled relation.

8. In a toy railway, the combination with a car having a plurality of pairs of supporting wheels, each pair mounted to dispose the wheels at an opposite angle whereby the tread at their track engaging point will present a wider gage, of a track comprising a base having parallel upstanding ribs constituting track rails, between which each pair of wheels are adapted to be guided and with which the tread of said wheels coact as for the purpose specified.

9. Ina toy railway car construction, a foundation including a pair of sections each comprising a block having recesses extending inwardly from its opposite ends thereof providing spared ends depending bosses at the opposite spaced ends thereof formed oxteriorly to simulate trucks, an axle having supporting wheels mounted thereon adapted to be arranged between the spaced ends of the block in the recesses, and an outer covering shell adapted to house the foundation to retain the axles in assembled relation within the recesses the truck bosses and wheels projecting below said shell.

10. In a toy railway car construction, a foundation including a pair of sections each of which consists'of a block having a medial boss on its inner side, said bosses adapted to abut and ooaet to space the opposite ends of the blocks, inwardly extending alined grooves in the inner faces of the outer ends of the blocks, bosses depending from the opposite ends thereof simulating trucks, axles having supporting wheels mounted thereon and provided with side arms adapted to be received by grooves, and an outer covering shell adapted to receive the foundation to retain the sections against relative separation and hold the side arms of the axles within the grooves, the said truck bosses and wheels projecting below said shell.

11. In a toy railway, a car having a plurality of pairs of spaced wheels mounted to slant inwardly from their point of contact with a supporting surface, and a base providing courses for said pairs of wheels with marginal exterior elevations confining said pairs of wheels to said courses.

12. In a diminutive toy railway, a car comprising an outer shell, a heavy filling of solid material having spaces therein, a plurality of pairs of comparatively large supporting wheels received by said spaces, and a base providing courses for said wheels having marginal elevations confining said pairs of wheels to said courses.

13. A diminutive toy railway including cars consisting of exterior shells, weighted filler blocks positioned therein having depending portions arranged in pairs and siniulating trucks exposed below said exterior shells, compa 'atively large revolving wheels mounted between each pair of blocks, and a base providing courses for said wheels with marginal elevations confining said wheels to the courses.

CHARLES FRASER- EDVVAl-IDS. 

